A member of parliament raised concerns over cracks and other structural issues in the National Parliament building on Monday, prompting Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram to ask the Ministry of Housing and Public Works to take immediate action.
The issue was brought to the house through a privilege notice submitted by Sherpur-1 lawmaker Md Rashedul Islam Rashed. The Speaker informed parliament about the notice at the beginning of Monday’s sitting.
Addressing the house, the Speaker said 6 privilege notices had been received during the ongoing second session of the 13th Parliament. Decisions on 4 of those notices had already been communicated to lawmakers, while the remaining 2 were addressed on Monday.
Referring to Rashed’s notice, the Speaker said the lawmaker had raised urgent concerns about the maintenance and structural safety of the parliament complex.
According to the notice, cracks have recently been observed at different locations within the National Parliament building. It also said rainwater was leaking through the roof and other sections of the structure.
The notice said the National Parliament is the country’s highest legislative institution and that preserving its dignity, safety and operational effectiveness is a responsibility of the state.
Quoting the notice, the Speaker said, "I am raising a privilege question to draw attention to an urgent issue concerning the structural safety and functionality of the Parliament Building. Cracks have recently been noticed in different parts of the building, while rainwater is seeping through the roof and other sections due to infrastructural defects."
Describing the matter as important, the Speaker requested Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher to take necessary measures without delay.
"The honorable member’s notice is very important. I request the minister in charge of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works to take prompt action in this regard," the Speaker told the house.
However, he said the notice could not be accepted as a question of breach of privilege under Rule 54(3) of the Rules of Procedure because the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Parliament Secretariat.
The parliament building, designed by American architect Louis Isadore Kahn, is one of Bangladesh’s most iconic structures and serves as the seat of the legislature. Concerns over visible cracks and water leakage have renewed attention to the maintenance and preservation of the complex.
